IT Hiring Down Again, But ITAA Says Workforce Stabilizing
1/8/2003 -- In a report released last month, the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) said that despite a significant drop in hiring, the U.S. IT workforce is stabilizing thanks to an even bigger decrease in layoffs.
According to the ITAA, only 1.18 million IT positions were filled between between Oct. 2001 and Oct. 2002 , as compared to more than 2 million during the 12 months between Jan. 2001 and Jan. 2002. But hiring outpaced layoffs, with only 844,0000 tech workers laid off during those 12 months, as compared to 2.6 million during 2001.
"Both hiring and dismissals are far below January numbers, which may signal a stabilization of the IT workforce after the roller coaster of the recent year," commented ITAA President Harris Miller.
In fact, the IT industry actually grew over the last quarter. According to the quarterly update of the ITAA's annual workforce survey, the IT industry gained 147,000 jobs in the third quarter of 2002, bringing the total size of the workforce 10,123,000. However, the news isn't good for everyone -- while most IT areas are seeing slight to moderate gains, demand for network administrators has dropped eight percent since the beginning of 2002.
The ITAA is an industry association that promotes public policy, research and networking for IT industry organizations. More information about the study and the ITAA can be found here.  - B.N.
|
There are 56  user Comments for “IT Hiring Down Again, But ITAA Says Workforce Stabilizing”
|
|
Page 3 of 6
|
| 1/10/03: Lars from In Colorado says: |
One point that has not been mentioned is that over time even excellent tech industries do rise and "fall." Many of us have changed careers at least once to find greener ($$) pastures. Examples? 1. Consumer electronics - almost all is throw away now, many technician jobs out - time to move. 2. Commercial electronics - lots of PC's & software in industry, less mainframes, less complex electronic systems that need techs - move again. 3. Aviation business - tough times before this - move to IT - greener pastures. So the list goes on. Many of us are used to this and have learned the system. I applaud the words from all regarding staying positive and doing our best. However we do have a serious economic let-down. The few that did get jobs right away, be glad indeed but show mercy! Millions are out of work not just a few sad sacks out there. All this was made worse by the unethical fiscal dealings of so many corporate big-wigs. And now that the bottom has fallen out on the value of some of these IT career fields, let's identify the next big wave and get ready for it. Face it, some IT jobs are not going to be as promising as they were in the past. And yes, get the important paper tags, but KNOW IT TECHNOLOGIES WELL and you should succeed. Last but not least, do believe in and develop your skills but let's all direct our Faith back to God where it belongs, not ourselves! With over twenty years technical experience, I wish you all well. |
| 1/10/03: Fran from PA says: |
I have over 20 years experience but was unemployed for 18 months – the company I worked for moved to GA and due to family responsibilities I wasn’t able to relocate. I was a very dedicated employee working when-ever/where-ever I was needed. My first marriage went bye-bye due to me being a work-junkie. So all the hard work and dedication doesn’t always pay off. I took the time to get my Windows 2000 MCSE and was finally able to get a job making 20 grand less than my last position. Now I hear of talk that all the large corporations in USA are moving their tech support positions to India. Some of my techie friend’s jobs were eliminated/moved to India, and they are re-thinking/re-training for new careers. If all the good paying jobs are moving overseas, how is the economy going to get better? |
| 1/10/03: Abdul from India says: |
Yes, I have your job. |
| 1/10/03: ThoughtCancer from Southeast says: |
There is a grain of truth to "Abdul's" comments. Locally, a huge call center took a huge hit when HP pulled the contract out from under them. 3500 local americans lost their jobs because HP, with their global reach, outsourced those same jobs to India. There are two sides: HP's, which is beholden only to the stockholders (this is America, land of capitalism. HP owes us nothing), and exporting jobs to India increases shareholder value, and the American side, which says that american companies who get all the benefits of america, should put american employees first. Unfortunately, in the clash between money and ethics, guess which one wins 9 times out of 10? |
| 1/10/03: Tom from Chicago says: |
I have read all these frestrations, sadness, overconfidance and all. Dose Anyone really know where we really heading to. I have no clue. |
| 1/11/03: Curly Joe from Northeast US says: |
All we can really hope for is an HONEST days work for an HONEST days pay. The days of making 60 grand a year to build workstations, or tell an end user she's a twit because he/she forgets there password 3 times a week are over. Theres still gold in them there hills though, but you need to be an inovative kind of person, take what you learn as a baseline and work outside the box, finding new cost effective solutions to issues, and be convinced enough to prove your point, break out of the day to day and the money AND self satisfaction are there. Let Abdul keep thoughs meaningless help desk jobs, that what the majority of the jobs are that are moving over there and over the long haul truly inteligent people in the industry grow to dispise doing them anyway. |
| 1/11/03: Not Abdul!!! says: |
Certs are OK, but a University degree is a must. Yes, I know that sometimes college is not very similar to reality, but it really gives you a lot of tools. It is a must if you want to move to managerial jobs in IT after being some years in the technical field, specially if you get a MBA or a MsC, or even a certification such as PMP. It depends on what you want in your career. If you want to be the tech guy during your entire life, is OK to depend on certifications. You can also take a different highway, which looks slower at the beginnig but gets you farther. Don't be greedy!!! |
| 1/13/03: Yumiko says: |
I've obtained some certs (no MS). I don't know if it is valuable to get tons of vendor certs. Otherwise, instead of long-life learning (plus getting more certifications), I am in doubt what is the way to go to increase my market value. |
| 1/13/03: Anonymous says: |
T- Maybe you're just an ass? |
| 1/13/03: Viper from Chicago, IL says: |
Read various comments. Interesting ones are Lars from Colorodo & Not Abdul!!!, besides a host of other posts that talk about 'looking up'. This is a reality: Another boom of late 90's is a distant dream (maybe 5-7 years away) and would bring another wave of technological innovations for which we, the techies, have to train ourselves again. And 5-7 years are critical years, when the most of the techies are in their prime age. So Y concentrate on IT jobs alone. Seek out newer & greener ($$) pastures, maybe newer technologies in IT itself. MCSE & other 'common' certs are passe. And for Adbul, he will loose his job soon (with his atitude). In this economy, organizations will cut the 'bottom-lines' and move jobs to better labor markets. |
First Page Previous Page Next Page Last Page
|
|
|
|
